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It's on! Apparently what happens in Vegas, doesn't always stay there! In this exciting battle between two good friends and training partners, GM Shankland vs GM Hammer, we witness a sharp struggle full of interesting attacking ideas, met by creative defensive maneuvers. We learn how to say "fork" in French, and that you owe it to your friends to always try your hardest to beat them. Enjoy Sam's witty and honest review of this fun game! | Watch video
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One of our regular YouTube Authors makes his "main site" video lecture debut today by contributing to one of our most popular, longest running series! FIDE Master Kavutskiy enjoys long walks on the beach, candlelight dinners, and solving ridiculously hard chess puzzles! Kostya displays a famous combination from one of the world's leading instructors before showing an amazing finish to one of his own games. | Watch video
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Would the real "Benko Gambit" please stand up? Today GM Bojkov reviews an epic battle between two chess legends: Nimzowitsch and Capablanca! In 1914, long before the birth of Pal Benko, Capablanca applied a gambit "in the spirit" of the Benko, gaining the pressure of a long range bishop on the h8-a1 diagonal, and an open b-file in exchange for a small amount of material. Was this idea successful on it's first run? Watch and find out... | Watch video
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IM Rensch takes a quick time out from pawn structures and live commentary to review a game that clearly displays the problem with not fighting actively for space. Furthermore, especially for advanced players, he instructs on the need to put your pieces on the right squares not just in the current position, but in the evolving position as well. | Watch video
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In one of his most recent tournaments, GM Khachiyan faced off against a fellow Chess.com Video Author to create a dynamic, Classical Spanish struggle! International Master Keaton Kiewra took the white pieces into this main line Lopez, but when Melik engineered the threat of a d5-pawn break, Keaton was forced to concede the advantage, and found himself slowly outplayed into the late middlegame/endgame. | Watch video
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Before bringing his review of the Two Knight's Defense to a close by covering the Hungarian Variation (3...Nd4) as well as the dubious 3...h6, GM Kaidanov sidetracks into the Evan's Gambit! He recommends the declined (4...Bb6) for black, but also reviews some of the critical lines that follow after accepting the gambit. He then finishes off his coverage of the Two Knights before stressing the importance of studying middlegame play. | Watch video
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A victory, though not well known, comes in classic Capablanca fashion: A strategically sound kingside attack creates long term positional weaknesses in his opponent's camp; key exchanges are made; a superior endgame is reached (Bishop vs Knight); accurate calculation is applied to achieve... "flawless technique"! GM Dejan Bojkov describes it all elegantly... | Watch video
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As mentioned in the multiple Yugoslav Attack and Dragon videos being featured this month, the topical 9.g4 is exciting, tricky, and a must know for black players who intend of playing the Dragon as a regular part of their repertoire. IM Kiewra focuses black's three main options, including the controversial piece sacrifice on g4. Check out the related links for more on the topic! | Watch video
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As Sam explains, a common approach by Grandmasters against their young, usually well prepared opponents, is to take them out of theory early. GM Ivanov consistently agrees with this philosophy with his choice in the Modern; however, when a young Shanky takes a creative, aggressive approach, black finds himself on the ropes despite the Bishop Pair. This leads us to an extremely complex, but highly interesting endgame for Part 2! | Watch video
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With his next contribution, GM Shankland reviews one of the biggest wins of his career, and a game that catapulted him towards earning his first IM Norm. When he was faced with the choice of either simplifying the position and striving for equality as black, or castling long to "mix it up", a young Shanky made the predictable, aggressive decision. We're happy he did, as the fireworks that ensued were definitely worth it! | Watch video